The Bible does not directly address the concept of coincidence. However, it does speak to the sovereignty and providence of God over all things. This suggests that events that may seem random or coincidental to us are in fact ordained by God to accomplish His purposes.
Here are some key biblical principles related to coincidence:
1. God is sovereign over all things
The Bible teaches that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present (Psalm 139:1-6). Nothing happens outside of His sovereign will and control (Daniel 4:35; Romans 11:36). This means that even seemingly insignificant or chance events are guided by God to fulfill His plans.
Proverbs 16:33 – “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
2. God works out all things for good
For believers, God takes even painful events and works them out for our ultimate good and His glory (Romans 8:28). While we may not see how at the time, God uses all circumstances to conform us to Christ’s image and accomplish His purposes.
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
3. God’s timing is perfect
God’s timing often seems random or delayed to us. However, He is never early or late, but acts at just the right time to display His glory and achieve His plans (Galatians 4:4-5). What may look like coincidence is actually God coordinating events for our growth and His glory.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
4. God hears and answers prayer
God promises to hear and answer the prayers of His people (1 John 5:14-15). He works through prayer to accomplish His will on earth. Events that may seem like coincidence could actually be God’s direct response to the prayers of His people.
James 5:16 – “…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
5. God can override natural laws
The Bible records many miracles where God suspended natural laws to fulfill His purposes (Joshua 10:12-14; John 11:43-44). He may allow providential “coincidences” to happen that override normal cause and effect to accomplish His will.
Jeremiah 32:27 – “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”
6. God gives discernment to detect His providence
God grants wisdom and discernment to those who seek Him (James 1:5). He opens our eyes to detect His hand behind events that seem coincidental but in fact display His intentional, personal care for our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
7. Not all things are ordained by God
While God allows human free will, He uses even evil events to further His plans (Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23). However, He is not the author of evil (James 1:13) and some things happen outside His will (Matthew 23:37). Discernment is needed.
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
In summary, the Bible teaches that God sovereignly guides all things to accomplish His perfect will and display His glory. Events that may seem merely coincidental are orchestrated by Him as part of His divine plan. As we grow in faith, we can discern God’s providence in what seem like chance occurrences.
For the believer, this provides great comfort – God is actively shepherding every aspect of our lives towards Christ-likeness and eternal joy in Him. Even painful circumstances are carefully woven together for our ultimate good.
Unbelievers may be frustrated by the biblical teaching on coincidence. However, it is an invitation to put their faith in Christ and experience God’s loving care and direction, rather than being subject to impersonal chance.
As Charles Spurgeon said, “The Spirit of God works after the will of his own good pleasure. The way of man is not in himself, but the steps of the Most High are always ordered according to his eternal purpose. Chance blindly rules the godless, but he who serves God is ruled by God.”
Ultimately, the doctrine of God’s sovereignty eliminates the very concept of coincidence. As RC Sproul put it, “There is no maverick molecule if God is sovereign.” All things are ordained by God for His glory and our good.
A sampling of Bible verses on God’s sovereignty and providence
Here are some additional key Bible verses that speak to God’s sovereignty over all things, including seemingly random or coincidental events:
Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way.”
Acts 17:26 – “[God] determined allotted periods and the boundaries of [man’s] dwelling place.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Ephesians 1:11 – “In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Daniel 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.”
Psalm 33:11 – “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
Isaiah 46:10 – “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.”
Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
These and many other verses underscore that God is purposefully guiding all things – big and small – to fulfill His perfect plan. What may seem like random chance to us is in fact the outworking of God’s intentional sovereignty for His glory.
Examples of “coincidences” in the Bible
There are several biblical accounts of providential events that, from a human perspective, appear coincidental but are orchestrated by God:
Ruth “happens” to glean in Boaz’s field
In the book of Ruth, Ruth “just so happened” to glean grain in a field belonging to Boaz, her future husband. This seeming coincidence was God’s providence guiding Ruth to her kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 2:3).
A “random” arrow kills Ahab
An archer “happened” to shoot an arrow that pierces king Ahab between armor joints, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 22:34-38). From the archer’s perspective, it was a one-in-a-million shot – but really it was God’s judgment.
Jesus “coincidentally” rides into Jerusalem on a colt
Jesus sends his disciples to fetch a colt that to them seems randomly tied up and waiting (Luke 19:29-35). But this “coincidence” fulfills Zechariah’s messianic prophecy (Zechariah 9:9).
Saul “just so happens” to meet Ananias
After his conversion, Saul “coincidentally” meets Ananias who restores his sight (Acts 9:10-19). But this providential meeting is orchestrated by the Lord to further His plans for Saul.
In all these examples, God coordinated apparent coincidences to accomplish His sovereign will in human lives and events. What looked like chance or randomness was in fact the unseen hand of God at work.
Biblical figures who experienced God’s providence
Here are some biblical figures who saw God’s providence at work guiding the seeming coincidences of their lives:
Joseph
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery to get rid of him. But God sent Joseph ahead to Egypt to prepare the way and save his family (Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20).
Ruth
Through “random” events, God provided for Ruth and led her to Boaz, giving her a child in the messianic line (Ruth chapters 1-4).
Esther
Esther’s selection as queen and Mordecai’s “chance” discovery of an assassination plot were providential events to save the Jews (Esther chapters 4-9).
Jesus
Events like the visit of the Magi, Herod’s murder of children, and Jesus’ “coincidental” escapes all fulfilled prophecy and showed God’s sovereignty (Matthew 1:18 – 2:23).
Paul
Paul’s conversion and subsequent adventures show how God orchestrates seeming coincidences like Barnabas’ introduction and Philip’s randomly meeting (Acts 9; 21:27-29; 27:13-44).
God used apparent chance happenings to accomplish His purposes in the lives of these and all biblical figures. They testify to God’s unseen hand working through everyday events.
Practical applications
How should believers think about coincidence in light of biblical teaching on God’s sovereignty and providence?
Here are some practical applications:
1. Thank God for His sovereign care
When we experience providential “coincidences,” we can praise God for His intimate involvement in our lives. He cares about even the smallest details.
2. Look for God’s hand at work
We can develop eyes to see God working through everyday events. His fingerprints become apparent when we seek them.
3. Trust God’s timing and will
When God seems late or His will unclear, we can trust His timing is perfect and plans wise – even if events seem random in the moment.
4. Pray and seek wisdom for discernment
We can ask God for wisdom to distinguish His providence from true chance. Prayer is a key means He guides our discernment process.
5. Find comfort in God’s purposefulness
No detail escapes God’s notice or exists outside His purposes. This truth comforts believers amid confusing, chaotic times.
6. Be open to God’s course corrections
Sometimes God will use surprise “coincidences” to adjust our direction to better align with His will, if we are sensitive to His Spirit.
In all things, God calls believers to step out in faith, obey His Word, and trust in His good purposes – even when events seem random or meaningless. He is able to work all things for our growth in grace and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Objections and biblical responses
Some common objections arise to the biblical view of God’s sovereignty over seeming coincidence or chance events:
Objection: Doesn’t this make people into robots without free will?
Response: No, the Bible teaches that God is sovereign while people still make real choices – the two are not mutually exclusive (Philippians 2:12-13). God works out His plans through human free will, not in spite of it.
Objection: But what about truly random events like mutations?
Response: Some events have an appearance of randomness but God is capable of working through even these to accomplish His purposes (Proverbs 16:33). Ultimately no event falls outside God’s sovereignty.
Objection: Some coincidences clearly have no meaning or purpose.
Response: Events may appear meaningless to us but have significance from God’s perspective. We should avoid assuming apparent randomness has no purpose in God’s economy.
Objection: Are all “accidents” actually God’s will then?
Response: God’s providence does not mean that all events are good or that God directly causes evil (James 1:13-15). But He allows these events and works through them.
In the end, Christians can have confidence that while chance governs the godless, God sovereignly ordains all things – even seemingly random events – for His glory and their ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
